EP0503172A1 - Verfahren und Anordnung zum Herstellen optischer Baugruppen aus Lichtwellenleitern - Google Patents

Verfahren und Anordnung zum Herstellen optischer Baugruppen aus Lichtwellenleitern Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0503172A1
EP0503172A1 EP91250071A EP91250071A EP0503172A1 EP 0503172 A1 EP0503172 A1 EP 0503172A1 EP 91250071 A EP91250071 A EP 91250071A EP 91250071 A EP91250071 A EP 91250071A EP 0503172 A1 EP0503172 A1 EP 0503172A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
optical
arc
spring oscillator
electromagnet
optical waveguide
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP91250071A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Gerald Dr. Ing. Nürnberger
Albrecht Dipl.-Ing. Weise
Frank Ebermann
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TELECONNECT GmbH
Original Assignee
TELECONNECT GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by TELECONNECT GmbH filed Critical TELECONNECT GmbH
Publication of EP0503172A1 publication Critical patent/EP0503172A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/255—Splicing of light guides, e.g. by fusion or bonding
    • G02B6/2551—Splicing of light guides, e.g. by fusion or bonding using thermal methods, e.g. fusion welding by arc discharge, laser beam, plasma torch
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
    • G02B6/28—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
    • G02B6/2804—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers
    • G02B6/2821—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers using lateral coupling between contiguous fibres to split or combine optical signals
    • G02B6/2835—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers using lateral coupling between contiguous fibres to split or combine optical signals formed or shaped by thermal treatment, e.g. couplers

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method and an arrangement for producing optical assemblies from optical fibers, by means of which at least one or more optical fibers arranged adjacent to one another, which are clamped in a device for pulling or compressing, are heated at least in an area exceeding 2 mm and depending on the optical parameters of the optical assembly are plastically deformed or fused and deformed together in a length range in order to produce, for example, optical attenuators, light distributors or optical couplers.
  • Optical assemblies made of optical fibers enable the construction of diverse structures of optical transmission systems, the efficiency and reliability of which is decisively determined by the quality of the optical parameters of these assemblies.
  • a method for producing double-conically melted optical couplers with low losses from optical fibers in which the optical fibers are first heated and the heated optical fibers are deformed to form a double-conical coupler.
  • the thinnest double-conical melted point is then heated again, the heated point is compressed to form a glass ball and, after the glass ball has been heated again, is formed into a symmetrical double cone at the thinnest point, or an already double-conical coupler is formed at the thinnest point Notched for separation from each other, the separated areas heated and the heated areas reconnected by pressing them together.
  • the heating takes place with a micro burner, which is fed with oxypropane. Numerous process steps are required and the flame pressure of the micro burner entails the risk of deformations occurring in the waist area of the coupler.
  • OH ions striking the optical waveguide adversely affect the optical properties of the assembly.
  • a method and an arrangement are also known (DE-OS 28 12 346), which use a heating element for heating and melting or welding the optical waveguides, which element is formed by a coil with an elliptical cross section and fed with alternating current.
  • the optical fibers are clamped in a device for pulling or compressing and are melted and deformed depending on the optical parameters of the optical assembly.
  • the simultaneous heating and drawing process of the optical fibers leads to the formation of the taper and interference areas, the dimensions and shape of which are significantly influenced by the temperature, the width of the temperature field and the drawing speed.
  • the optical fibers are passed through the heating element and aligned so that their sections to be fused lie in the heating element.
  • connection length of the optical assembly is to be passed through the heating element in preparation for the method and for removal from the device, and due to the high temperatures required for melting the quartz glass optical waveguides, a strong oxidation of the heating element is to be expected, which adversely affects the reproducibility of the manufacturing process.
  • the invention seeks to remedy this.
  • the invention as characterized in the claims, achieves the object of providing a method and an arrangement for carrying out the method which reproducibly enable the production of optical assemblies from optical waveguides with a smaller number of process steps, the optical assembly not during the manufacturing process deform asymmetrically or adversely affect by OH ions and enable the production of different and similar optical assemblies with high-quality optical parameters and little effort through optimal fusion and shaping.
  • the advantages achieved by the invention consist essentially in the fact that heating or melting of one or more optical waveguides beyond the breaking width of an arc is achieved and the optical assembly is neither asymmetrically deformed during the manufacturing process by the flame pressure of a micro-burner nor is it adversely affected by OH ions , despite the high temperatures, there are no changes to the heating element used, which endanger the reproducibility of the process and optimal shapes with a locally controllable temperature field optical assemblies can be produced, which are the prerequisite for high quality optical parameters with a small number of process steps.
  • the device unit required for heating and melting the optical waveguide can be swiveled out of the melting or deformation area, as a result of which encapsulation of the optical assembly is made possible while maintaining the clamping.
  • a device for carrying out the method for producing optical assemblies from optical waveguides 6 is shown in the figures.
  • the method is explained for simplification on the basis of the manufacturing process of a taper-shaped fusible coupler from two optical fibers 6 and consists in its principle that an AC arc is used for heating and melting the optical fibers 6 in a region that extends beyond the width of the arc, which is caused by the oscillating movement of the the AC arc leading electrodes 1 is guided with a spring oscillator 3, 4, 5 along the optical waveguide 6.
  • the optical waveguides 6 are clamped in a device for pulling or compressing the optical waveguides 6, heated and depending on the optical parameters of the optical assembly melted and deformed.
  • a complete abutment of the optical fibers 6 clamped in parallel to produce a taper-shaped fuse coupler is favored by crosslinking the optical fibers 6 with the acetone also used for cleaning the optical fibers 6 prior to the heating and melting process.
  • the heating and melting of the optical waveguide 6 takes place by oscillating movement of the electrodes 1 guiding the alternating current arc along the optical waveguide 6, as a result of which a temperature field is formed that extends beyond the width of the arc, which optimizes the shape of the tapered melting coupler during the drawing process and in its width Control of the arc current depending on the current location of the spring oscillator 3, 4, 5 can also be varied in its local intensity.
  • a device corresponding to FIG. 1 which consists of a spring oscillator 3, 4, 5 clamped on one side and excited with a first electromagnet 7 for controlling and maintaining its oscillation amplitude, on its oscillatable side perpendicular to the pendulum movement of the spring oscillator 3, 4 , 5 electrodes 1 are arranged opposite, which lead the AC arc along the optical waveguide 6.
  • the spring oscillator 3, 4, 5 consists of a fixed pin 5 on which two leaf springs 4 are arranged parallel to one another. Opposite the pin 5, the leaf springs 4 are connected to a ceramic carrier 3, on which electrode holders 2 are mounted, which fasten the electrodes 1.
  • the arrangement of the leaf springs 4 forms an oscillatory Spring parallelogram, which executes a harmonic pendulum movement by excitation of the spring oscillator 3, 4, 5, which runs approximately parallel to the optical waveguides 6.
  • the pendulum movement of the spring oscillator 3, 4, 5 heats the optical fibers 6 with the alternating current arc burning between the electrodes 1 in a region that extends beyond the width of the alternating current arc.
  • the length of the heating region is determined by the oscillation amplitude of the spring oscillator 3, 4, 5, which is controlled and maintained as a function of the phase position of the spring oscillator 3, 4, 5 and its oscillation amplitude using a first electromagnet 7.
  • the first electromagnet 7 consists of two immersion coils into which two iron pins 8 attached to the side surfaces of the ceramic carrier 3 are immersed. They return the vibration energy consumed by mechanical damping to the spring transducer 3, 4, 5 and ensure a constant, adjustable vibration amplitude.
  • the spring oscillator 3, 4, 5 oscillates approximately at its resonance frequency of 20 Hz and on its underside there is a displacement sensor shown in FIG. 3, which is formed by a wedge-shaped diaphragm 14, an emitter diode 13 and a photodiode 15.
  • the pendulum movement of the wedge-shaped diaphragm 14 connected to the spring oscillator 3, 4, 5 is indicated by an arrow pointing in two directions, while the emitter diode 13 and the photodiode 15 are arranged in a stationary manner.
  • An analog signal representing the current location of the spring oscillator 3, 4, 5, 5 is provided by the photodiode 15 or the displacement transducer, which signal is fed to an analog-digital converter ADG shown in FIG. 1 and transformed into a bit sequence.
  • a program of the control computer provides the higher-value address part 12 ready with which the intensity of the AC arc is determined at locations along the optical waveguide 6.
  • the address units of the analog-digital converter ADC and the control computer 12 are connected to a memory RAM, the outputs of which carry the signals corresponding to the instantaneous value of the intensity of the AC arc.
  • the memory RAM is loaded with the required vectors, which determine the intensity of the alternating current arc as a function of the deflection of the spring oscillator 3, 4, 5 and thus determine the local temperature field along the optical waveguide 6.
  • a digital-to-analog converter DAC is connected to the memory RAM and is connected to a controllable high-voltage generator HSG to which the electrodes 1 carrying the AC arc are connected.
  • the table drives 10 receiving the optical fibers 6 in a manner not shown are driven by means of stepper motors 11 via a motor control MST connected to the control computer 12.
  • the taper-shaped melt couplers are produced in a simultaneous heating and drawing process, the control of which is carried out with the control computer 12 in accordance with an optimized program.
  • the division ratio is measured with a light power meter LM and evaluated by the control computer 12.
  • an optical transmitter IRS feeds light into one of the optical waveguides 6.
  • the program is automatically terminated and the finished tapered fusion coupler can be removed from the device after a cooling phase or by swiveling it out the device unit required for heating and melting are encapsulated while maintaining the clamping in the device.
  • a second electromagnet 9 which is shown in FIG. 2, is arranged on the ceramic carrier 3 in order to produce an optical assembly consisting of more than two optical fibers 6. It consists of a toroidal magnet interrupted between the magnetic poles and is arranged such that the alternating current arc runs between these poles of the toroidal magnet.
  • This second electromagnet 9 is supplied with an alternating voltage, which deflects the alternating current arc from the shortest connection between the electrodes 1.
  • the pole areas of the ring core magnet each have a groove, as a result of which the optical waveguides 6 can be positioned in the central region of the magnetic field without contact and the AC arc is guided alternately along the optical waveguides 6.
  • a homogeneous temperature field is generated which forms the prerequisite for uniform heating of a plurality of optical fibers 6 and reduces the requirements for the adjustment of the optical fibers 6 in the temperature field.
  • the second electromagnet 9 is supplied with an alternating voltage, the frequency of which corresponds to the frequency of the alternating current arc and the phase position of which is rotated by 180 degrees in the reversal points of the spring oscillator 3, 4, 5.
  • the method and the device for producing optical assemblies from optical waveguides are suitable for producing identical and different optical assemblies, and a temporal and local control of the temperature field are used to specify Programs achieved optimal geometric shapes of optical assemblies from optical fibers, which form the basis for the quality of the optical parameters. Furthermore, the use of the alternating current arc with intensity control and the spring oscillators 3, 4, 5 with a high degree of constancy of the probability of staying at one location ensure the reproducibility of the method required for mass production.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)
EP91250071A 1990-01-16 1991-03-13 Verfahren und Anordnung zum Herstellen optischer Baugruppen aus Lichtwellenleitern Withdrawn EP0503172A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DD33712790A DD291646A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1990-01-16 1990-01-16

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0503172A1 true EP0503172A1 (de) 1992-09-16

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Family Applications (1)

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EP91250071A Withdrawn EP0503172A1 (de) 1990-01-16 1991-03-13 Verfahren und Anordnung zum Herstellen optischer Baugruppen aus Lichtwellenleitern

Country Status (2)

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EP (1) EP0503172A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DD (1) DD291646A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101819297A (zh) * 2010-04-23 2010-09-01 哈尔滨工业大学 一种用于光纤耦合器制作的熔融拉伸机构
EP2524255A4 (en) * 2010-01-15 2015-05-06 3Sae Technologies Inc MULTI-ELECTRODE SYSTEM COMPRISING VIBRANT ELECTRODES
US9377584B2 (en) 2007-02-07 2016-06-28 3Sae Technologies, Inc. Multi-electrode system with vibrating electrodes

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4392712A (en) * 1977-03-23 1983-07-12 Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co., Ltd. Light distributor
EP0303318A2 (de) * 1987-08-11 1989-02-15 Philips Patentverwaltung GmbH Verfahren zum gleichzeitigen Verschweissen mehrerer Lichtwellenleiterpaare

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4392712A (en) * 1977-03-23 1983-07-12 Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co., Ltd. Light distributor
EP0303318A2 (de) * 1987-08-11 1989-02-15 Philips Patentverwaltung GmbH Verfahren zum gleichzeitigen Verschweissen mehrerer Lichtwellenleiterpaare

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
FREQUENZ. Bd. 37, Nr. 9, September 1983, BERLIN DE Seiten 226 - 231; T. SCHWANDLER ET AL.: 'Rechnergesteuerte Herstellung von Gradientenfaser-Richtkopplern für bidirektionale Nachrichtenübertragung' *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 9, no. 323 (P-414)(2046) 18. Dezember 1985 & JP-A-60 150 011 ( FUJI DENKI SOUGOU KENKYUSHO ) 7. August 1985 *

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9377584B2 (en) 2007-02-07 2016-06-28 3Sae Technologies, Inc. Multi-electrode system with vibrating electrodes
US9952386B2 (en) 2007-02-07 2018-04-24 3Sae Technologies, Inc. Multi-electrode system with vibrating electrodes
EP2524255A4 (en) * 2010-01-15 2015-05-06 3Sae Technologies Inc MULTI-ELECTRODE SYSTEM COMPRISING VIBRANT ELECTRODES
CN101819297A (zh) * 2010-04-23 2010-09-01 哈尔滨工业大学 一种用于光纤耦合器制作的熔融拉伸机构

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DD291646A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1991-07-04

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